ITI5163 · Introduction to cryptography for cybersecurity

Overview

The unit aims to provide you with in depth knowledge of techniques required to deal with security problems in information systems. The main areas of study include symmetric and asymmetric encryption techniques, cryptographic hash functions with related topics of message authentication codes and digital signatures. Study of techniques and algorithms for providing mutual trust include key management and distribution and user authentication to establish trust in the identity of communicating partner are also included. It looks at various management issues, including use and abuse of encryption, distributed systems authentication and integrity management. A range of security applications are used as examples. You will learn how to apply cryptographic techniques in practice.

Areas of study: Network and security

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Critically assess threats, vulnerabilities and risks to an organisation's information assets, and propose control technologies and techniques which can be applied to reduce the security risk;
2. Apply a variety of cryptographic algorithms to develop methods to disguise information to ensure its integrity, confidentiality and authenticity;
3. Apply a variety of methods for key management and distribution and analyse the risks associated with the various approaches;
4. Implement user authentication and access control mechanisms to create a security architecture to protect the assets of the information system;
5. Implement cryptographic techniques to preserve the security of information and evaluate its effectiveness;
6. Apply a variety of security control technologies to IT systems in an organisation.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled online and face to face learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated reading and preparation for scheduled activities. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.